MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as gene regulator and they participate in diverse biological pathways. Common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pre-microRNAs may change their property through altering miRNAs expression and/or maturation. We conducted a pilot study to test whether SNPs in pre-microRNAs were associated with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Genotypes of three SNPs in pre-miRNAs (hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 C/T, hsa-miR-499 rs3746444 A/G, and hsa-miR-146a rs2910164 G/C) in 226 CSCC patients and 309 control subjects were determined with the use of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. Significantly increased CSCC risks were found to be associated with G allele of rs3746444 and G allele of rs2910164 (P = 0.017, OR = 1.454, and P = 0.016, OR = 1.355, respectively). Increased CSCC risks were associated with them in different genetic model (P = 0.0004, OR = 1.98 for rs3746444 in an overdominant model, and P = 0.024, OR = 2.10 for rs2910164 in a codominant model, respectively). Results of stratified analyses revealed that rs2910164 is associated with tumor differentiation and lymph node status (P = 0.043, OR = 2.08, and a borderline P = 0.057, OR = 0.41, respectively). No association between rs11614913 and CSCC risk was observed. The present study provides evidence that rs3746444 and rs2910164 are associated with CSCC, indicating that common genetic polymorphisms in pre-microRNAs contribute to the pathogenesis of CSCC.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokine that is associated with inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and even tumors. Previous studies revealed that a large group of human malignant tumors have abnormally high IL-17 expression. In the present study, we analyzed two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL17A (rs2275913) and IL17F (rs763780) in 311 cervical cancer patients and 463 controls using TaqMan assays. Our results indicated that the frequencies of AA genotype and A allele of rs2275913 were significantly different between the cervical cancer patients and controls (P = 0.008, OR = 1.32, 95% CI, 1.07–1.62). Stratified analyses revealed that the polymorphism of rs2275913 was also associated with positive peritumor intravascular cancer emboli and high clinical stage. The genotype and allele frequencies of rs763780 did not show any difference between patients and controls or relate to patient clinical characteristics. Collectively, these findings suggested that IL17 gene polymorphism rs2275913 was associated with the susceptibility as well as positive peritumor intravascular cancer emboli and high clinical stage of cervical cancer in Chinese women.

BackgroundEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal malignant gynecological cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. The role of miR-494 in EOC has not been fully investigated.Material/methodsMiR-494 levels in ovarian cancer tissues and cells were tested by qRT-PCR. Cells were transfected with miR-494 mimics or miR-494 ASO by Lipofectamine. Bioinformatics algorithms from TargetScanHuman were used to predict the target genes of miR-494. The c-Myc protein level was assayed by Western blot. The interaction between miR-494 and c-Myc was confirmed by dual luciferase assays.ResultsMiR-494 showed low levels in EOC tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-494 inhibited cell growth and migration of EOC cells and vice versa. c-Myc is the targeted gene of miR-494.ConclusionsMiR-494 has an anti-tumor role in EOC via c-Myc.

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Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Previous studies revealed that abnormal expression/activation of STAT family members were present in a large group of human malignant tumors. In the present study, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism, DNA sequencing, and Taqman probe real-time PCR techniques, we analyzed two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the STAT5B and STAT3 genes (rs6503691 and rs4769793, respectively) in 275 Chinese cervical cancer patients and 340 controls. Our results indicated that the genotype and allele frequencies of SNP rs4769793 were significantly different between the cervical cancer patients and normal subjects (p < 0.05, odds ratio = 1.35, 95% confidence interval = 1. 07-1.70). In addition, stratified analyses revealed that the polymorphism of rs4769793 was also associated with poor tumor differentiation and positive parametrial invasion (p < 0. 05). In contrast, SNP rs6503691 did not show any difference between patients and controls or association with patient clinical characteristics. Collectively, these findings suggested that STAT3 gene polymorphism (rs4769793) was associated with the susceptibility as well as poor differentiation and parametrial invasion of cervical cancer in Chinese women.

Rationale:As more and more women delay their child bearing age, the prevalence of uterine fibroids during pregnancy is likely to increase.Patient Concerns & Lessons:We report a Chinese Tibetan case with spontaneous expulsion of a huge cervical myoma after cesarean. Decreased blood supply of the myoma and the uterine contraction may contribute to the spontaneous expulsion. Vaginal-myomectomy is recommended as the initial treatment.

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These results demonstrated that IL-17 may regulate chemokines and cytokines in gynecologic cancers.